‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ Proverbs 22:6 Proverbs 22:6 presents a principle of formation rather than a mechanical guarantee. Scripture emphasizes the power of early direction, showing that the habits, values, and fears planted in youth shape the trajectory of a life. Training implies intentionality, patience, and consistency—it is not passive influence, but active guidance rooted in truth. This principle is reinforced throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 6:6–7 instructs, “These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,” showing that godly training is woven into daily life, not reserved for occasional instruction. Likewise, Proverbs 1:8 urges, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother,” revealing that wisdom is transmitted through faithful parental presence and example. The phrase “the way he should go” speaks not merely of moral behavior, but of a God-ordered path fitted to the child’s calling and character. Psalm 127:3 declares, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD,” reminding parents and mentors that children are entrusted, not owned. Training, therefore, is stewardship—shaping a soul toward God rather than forcing conformity. When instruction aligns with God’s design, it forms conviction rather than rebellion. The promise that “when he is old, he will not depart from it” reflects the enduring influence of early truth. Even when a child wanders, the imprint remains. Ecclesiastes 12:1 urges, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,” because what is learned early becomes a compass later. Scripture shows that God often uses remembered truth to call a person back to Himself long after youthful instruction seemed forgotten. Practically, Proverbs 22:6 calls adults to model what they teach. Paul reinforced this responsibility in Ephesians 6:4 when he wrote, “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Training is most effective when instruction and example agree. A life shaped by reverence for God, consistency, and love becomes the living curriculum a child carries forward.

‘Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.’Proverbs 22:5 (Proverbs 22:5) presents sin not as freedom, but as a dangerous path filled with hidden wounds and traps. The froward person is one who is twisted in heart and stubborn in will, choosing resistance to God rather than submission. Scripture does not portray this path as merely misguided, but actively harmful. Thorns tear and snares entrap, showing that rebellion against God brings pain and bondage, often before one even realizes the danger. This warning echoes throughout Scripture. Proverbs 13:15 teaches, “The way of transgressors is hard,” revealing that disobedience carries built-in consequences. Likewise, Isaiah 57:20 says, “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Sin promises ease, but delivers unrest. The path of the froward is not neutral ground; it is hostile terrain that injures those who walk it. In contrast, Proverbs 22:5 highlights protection through restraint: “he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.” This speaks of vigilance over one’s inner life—thoughts, desires, habits, and influences. Proverbs 4:23 commands, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Guarding the soul is not isolation from the world, but intentional distance from patterns that corrupt it. Wisdom does not flirt with danger; it creates space from it. Practically, this verse calls believers to take sin seriously before it takes them. Many snares are subtle—compromise justified, boundaries softened, convictions delayed. Jesus warned in Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” Watchfulness is the discipline of foresight, and prayer is the confession of dependence. Together, they keep the soul from wandering into thorn-filled paths. Ultimately, Proverbs 22:5 teaches that holiness is not deprivation but preservation. Those who keep their soul are not missing out; they are being spared. Psalm 119:101 captures this heart posture when it says, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” Distance from evil is not weakness, but wisdom—and it is the quiet protection God gives to those who choose His way over their own.